“It’s been almost eighteen years, Presley. Of course we painted.”

It amazes me how my mother can scold me while she kisses my cheek.

The boys look around in wonder. They knew I was raised in the country, but I think their version of country and mine are a little different. Todd thought we lived in a rural area in Pennsylvania. I would laugh and roll my eyes. These boys have no idea.

Logan and Cayden assault my father with questions.

“Do you have a lot of horses, Papa?”

“Can we ride a horse?”

“Do you eat the cows you have here?”

“Is this a petting zoo?

“Does the rooster wake you up or do you have electricity? What about Wi-Fi?”

“Boys, boys.” I place my hands on their shoulder. “Easy. Yes, we have electricity. Yes, we have a few horses, and Papa doesn’t kill the cattle here, he sells them.” Then they kill them. Minor detail. “Let’s get our stuff inside and then I can show you around, okay?”

“Presley!” Cooper calls out as he walks toward us. I haven’t spoken to my brother much. I’m praying this won’t be too awkward.

“Cooper!” I smile as he gets closer. I walk toward him and he yanks me into his arms. He’s freaking huge! “Holy crap, are you bench-pressing the cows? You’re like a bear.” I don’t remember him being this tall. I’m not short, but he’s well over six foot. His chest is wide and his arms are insane. My little brother is all grown.

“I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I would’ve been there, but I had to run the ranch.”

I look at the ground and wish people would stop talking about him. I’m tired of people’s sympathy. I don’t want to be this grieving widow who’s lost and sad. No one can even begin to understand the anger I have, especially since I have to hide the truth. I can’t help but hate him for what he’s done to the three of us. He set off a bomb and left me with the fallout. “I understand, Coop. Thanks.”

He tickles my sides and becomes animated again. “But look at you, all city girl.”

“Look at you, all country,” I say, giggling.

He laughs. “Not all of us got to experience life outside of here. Someone had to run the ranch when you left to be with your boyfriend.”

Well, that took a lot less time than I thought. “Cooper.”

“You left, and I stayed. It’s just the truth.”

I roll my eyes and bite my tongue. I have a feeling the teeth impressions I’ll have on my tongue will become permanent. Cooper got the short end of the stick according to him. When I left, he was forced to take over the ranch. He had big dreams of leaving here and moving to a city. He was smart and could’ve done it, but then Daddy needed to retire, and I left. He’s resented me ever since.

“It wasn’t like that,” I try to defend myself.

He shakes his head. “You ran off with him and never came back. It’s exactly like that.” Cooper walks toward Mama who watches me with sad eyes.

Looks like it’s going to be a long few months . . . or longer.

I CAN’T SLEEP. I STARE at the ceiling in my room. The same room I lived in for eighteen years. I figured they would’ve at least taken my posters off the wall, but no. It’s a time warp in here. This whole house is. The boys almost cried when they saw their room. Flowers everywhere, on the walls, the sheets, the border . . . you’d think a florist vomited in there.

I glance at the clock—five a.m.—might as well get up.

I head downstairs to where Mama already has breakfast started. “Mornin’, Mama.”

“Mornin’, sugar. You sleep well?”

“I did. What’s for breakfast?” It’s a lie, I’m getting really good at them now. If she knows, she doesn’t say anything, though.

She whips something in the bowl and my stomach rumbles. This will be the one thing about being home that won’t suck. “Just the normal things. Go on out to the coop and grab us some eggs.”

“Okay.” I’ve always hated the chickens. There was one hen who is evil and always tried to attack me. Mama used to make me go if she needed a good laugh.

I grab the basket that has sat by the back door since I can remember and head out toward the animals who are not my friends. It’s like time has stood still out here too. Everything is the same, and it makes me want to scream.

I grab a half dozen eggs with no drama and head back to the house.

“Presley?” A deep, familiar voice stops me in my tracks.

My heart pounds, and my blood runs cold. It can’t be him. I turn slowly, praying it isn’t. He shouldn’t be here, not here, not now. Slowly my gaze lifts and relief floods me. It’s not the blue eyes and dark brown hair I expect to see. Instead, it’s a pair of honey eyes and light brown hair that I’d know anywhere. The one person in this town I actually am happy to see. “Wyatt!” My smile is automatic.

“I’ll be damned! I thought that was you, but I didn’t know you were visiting!” He rushes forward and then hoists me in the air. He smiles while shaking his head. “I can’t believe it. Presley Townsend in the flesh.”

“Benson now.” I laugh as he squeezes me tight. “What are you doing on the ranch?” I ask as he puts me down.

“I’m the new foreman.”

I slap his chest in excitement. “Foreman? Here?” That makes no sense.

“I didn’t want to work for my family, so I came to work for your brother. You know how that goes, don’t ya?”

Wyatt Hennington has been a part of my life since birth. His mama and mine have been best friends since they were kids. He’s also the younger brother of the boy I ran away with. The boy who gave me my first engagement ring, my first broken heart, and the reason I never wanted to return to this town.

“That’s . . .” I struggle to find the right thing to call it. “Understandable, I guess?”

Wyatt shrugs with his irresistible grin still in place. “I think it’s good.”

I fight against asking the next logical question, but I don’t want to know. “How are your parents?”

He laughs as if he knows what I’m avoiding. “Good. They’re traveling a lot since they retired.”

“That’s good. And Trent?”

“Trent’s the sheriff now.”

“Sheriff?” I ask in disbelief. “They let him be in charge of people?”

“Who would’ve thought, right? He’s still an idiot, though.”

“Oh, I’m sure that’s true.” We both chuckle. “Still, to give the kid who stole a cop car when we were kids a gun and a badge . . . is crazy.”

Wyatt shakes his head. “I figure he liked pretending he was a cop so much that he decided to do it for real.”

“Sounds like Trent.”

“Yup.” He rocks on his heels. “And Zachary is—”

“Glad everyone’s doing well.” I cut him off. Right now my heart can’t handle hearing his name. When I think about Zach, I think about college. When I think about college, I think about Todd piecing me back together after I was shattered. Then I think about how Todd went and shattered me himself. It’s better to not think.